Guidelines for Educator Candidate Placement
These guidelines apply to all candidates pursuing initial elementary or secondary teaching licenses in any area. These guidelines do not apply to teachers seeking additional endorsements or other professional support positions.
The Beaverton School District (BSD) is committed to fostering high-quality teaching programs that prepare exceptional educators to serve Oregon’s diverse student population. These guidelines ensure our collaboration with universities that support robust education, clinical practice and classroom management training.
Our priority is to maintain the highest standards of student learning and growth while hosting student-teachers. By establishing clear expectations, we aim to cultivate a structured and supportive environment where candidates develop the skills needed to lead effective classrooms.
Rigorous preparation, including significant practicum hours, gradual teaching responsibilities and strong university supervision, is critical for the professional development of new educators. These measures ensure that our students benefit from continuity in learning and are guided by their regular teachers and well-prepared educator candidates during the practicum experience.
University programs must meet the following criteria to be eligible for Educator Candidate Placement in BSD classrooms:
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Practicum/Clinical Hours - Programs must include at least 600 practicum/clinical hours as part of their curriculum.
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Progression Model - BSD prioritizes educator candidates who participate in a full-year program that ensures a structured progression of responsibilities. Candidates must gradually assume increasing levels of responsibility within the classroom until the educator candidate takes responsibility for the class for most or all of the school day.
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Classroom Experience Before Full Teaching Responsibilities - Before assuming full teaching responsibilities, candidates must complete a minimum of 200 hours and two months in the same classroom where the candidate will assume a full teaching role.
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Eligibility for Oregon Teaching License - Programs must be designed so that candidates can meet requirements for a preliminary or reciprocal Oregon teaching license upon completion.
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University Supervision - University programs must conduct at least four formal observations of educator candidates throughout their placement and provide written feedback. At least two of the observations must be conducted in person.
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Collaboration with BSD - To foster effective partnership and communication, participating universities must designate liaisons to participate in BSD retreats or collaboration meetings.
Application Process:
Universities must apply several months in advance to seek placement for their educator candidates in Beaverton. After a successful application and acceptance, both parties sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlining the parameters of the agreement and the responsibilities of all parties. Following this, the university may submit placement requests. These requests should be sent to the Human Resources Department by the deadlines outlined below.
For fall placement, requests made by May 30 will have priority (later requests will be processed in late August and upon availability).
For placements starting in January or later, requests are due by October 1 (later requests will be processed upon availability).
All requests require a minimum of 30 calendar days before the placement starting date.
For questions not answered in the FAQ below, contact the University Partnership Office at HR-Career-Pathways@beaverton.k12.or.us